Iranian authorities sources have reported that the Turkish Kurecik Radar Station within the nation’s Malatya province performed a essential position in supporting Israeli missile defence efforts, after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps retaliated to Israeli air strikes from June 13-24 by launching ballistic missile and drone assaults in opposition to Israeli targets. Iranian state media outlet Press TV cited officers stating on this foundation that Turkey was “spying on Iran for Zionist pursuits.” Whereas Turkey was the primary nation within the Center East to ascertain diplomatic relations with Israel, Iran proceed to seek advice from Israel as a ‘Zionist entity’ and in related phrases because of a refusal to recognise the state’s legitimacy. The AN/TPY-2 radar programs on the facility in query have been put in U.S. navy personnel within the early 2010s, permitting it to open it 2012.
The Turkish authorities has confirmed that radar information from the Kurecik base is shared with the opposite NATO members, and was “established consistent with Turkey’s nationwide safety and pursuits and is meant to make sure the safety of the NATO allies.” This consists of the US, which actively participated in Israeli operations in opposition to Iran, in addition to different NATO members that are reported to have supplied key help corresponding to the UK and Germany. Whereas the Turkish authorities has denied offering information to Israel instantly, which stays in query as a result of superior state of defence cooperation between the 2 states, the sharing of knowledge with different NATO members, which themselves share intelligence with Israel, would permit this information to achieve the Israel Defence Forces. The USA would additionally have the ability to use this information to bolster its personal efforts to intercept Iranian missiles focusing on Israel utilizing its AEGIS destroyers and THAAD anti-missile programs.
American and allied radar programs on the bottom are networked with airborne sensors and U.S. House Drive property to maximise situational consciousness in opposition to incoming missile assaults. Regardless of help from Turkey and the Untied States, nevertheless, missile defence efforts in opposition to Iranian strikes have been restricted of their success, with the harm to navy and strategic targets throughout Israel having been extreme. Missile strikes performed a central position in urgent Israel and the US to press for a ceasefire earlier than their full aims have been achieved in opposition to Iran, with the intense depletion of the 2 international locations’ arsenals of anti-missile interceptors, and the rising use of extra superior missiles in a position to extra simply evade interception, having been important components.
Turkey has been a significant strategic associate for Israel because the outbreak of hostilities between the nation and quite a few Iranian-aligned navy teams in October 2023. The nation continued to make main oil shipments instantly from Ceyhan Port to a pipeline close to Ashkelon in Israel, which accounted for roughly 30 p.c of all Israeli oil imports. Turkish vessels delivery crude oil to Israel have notably turned off their transponders, solely to reappear days later, however might be noticed making their deliveries utilizing satellite tv for pc imagery, with this being key to sustaining the nation’s battle effort. The international locations’ defence partnership has spanned a number of a long time, an instance being the intensive refurbishment and modernisation Israel supplied to the Turkish F-4E fighter fleet.
Israel and Turkey have been broadly reported to carefully coordinate their operations in opposition to Syria and the Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah, which have been pressed between two fronts of their conflicts with the 2 states. Ankara and Tel Aviv additionally coordinated efforts to bolster jihadist insurgents in opposition to the Syrian authorities in Syria from 2011-2024, which alongside coaching and provides additionally acquired air help from each Turkish and from Israeli fighter planes when participating Syrian forces. Aside from the US, Turkish contributions have been by far probably the most important in facilitating Israel’s ongoing battle efforts in opposition to its adversaries.
